Torque reduction assembly for an archery bow

ABSTRACT

A torque reduction assembly for use with an archery bow having a central riser includes a grip having a front surface adapted to be in contact with an archer&#39;s hand and a coupling for mounting the grip to the riser that allows a predetermined amount of rotational movement of the grip with respect to the riser along two axis while maintaining alignment between the grip and the riser along a third axis. The two axis of movement include a vertical axis generally extending along the length of the riser and a horizontal axis generally extending perpendicular to the riser and parallel to the front surface of the grip.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/232,164, filed Sep. 11, 2000. Additional matter has been added to this provisional application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to equipment used in archery and, more particularly, to torque free grips used in archery, and, most particularly, to an assembly for reducing the torque transferred from the grip to the riser so that the archer can maintain precise control over the bow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The reduction or elimination of the torque transferred from an archer's hand or grip to the riser of the bow would greatly increase the accuracy of each shot. Torque free grips have previously been incorporated into conventional archery bows. Examples of such torque free grips are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,252,100, 5,081,979, 5,469,834, and 5,842,460. While these torque free grips may be suitable for particular uses, none are suitable for substantially reducing or eliminating the torque which is transferred from the grip of the archery bow to its riser.

[0004] A need exists, therefore, for a grip that may be incorporated into a conventional archery bow that eliminates or reduces the torque transferred from the archer's hand or grip to the riser upon release of an arrow. Preferably, such a torque reduction assembly would also eliminate or reduce the vertical torque that can be transmitted from the grip to the riser, be as compact as possible, be easily retrofitted into conventional archery bows and be cosmetically appealing. The torque reduction assembly would allow the archer to maintain precise control over the bow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a torque reduction assembly that may be used in combination with a conventional archery bow that reduces or eliminates the torque otherwise transferred from the archer's hand or the grip to the riser of the bow. The invention allows the archer to maintain precise control over the bow.

[0006] In one embodiment, the torque reduction assembly is designed for use with an archery bow having a central riser and includes a grip having a front surface adapted to be in contact with an archer's hand and a coupling for mounting the grip to the riser that allows a predetermined amount of rotational movement of the grip with respect to the riser along two axis while maintaining alignment between the grip and the riser along a third axis. The two axis of movement may include a vertical axis generally extending along the length of the riser and a horizontal axis generally extending perpendicular to the riser and parallel to the front surface of the grip. In a first embodiment, the coupling is spaced between the front surface of the grip and the riser. The coupling may be within a milled out portion of the riser. The riser may extend through a hollow central portion of the grip. In another embodiment, the riser may be spaced between the coupling and the front surface of the grip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein:

[0008]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional archery bow;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the torque reduction assembly of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a top view of the first embodiment of the torque reduction assembly;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a front view of the first embodiment of the torque reduction assembly;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the torque reduction assembly of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a top view of the second embodiment of the torque reduction assembly;

[0014]FIG. 7 is a side view of a third embodiment of the torque reduction assembly of the present invention; and

[0015]FIG. 8 is a top view of the third embodiment of the torque reduction assembly.

[0016] These drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to unduly limit the scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional archery bow 10 having a central riser 12, upper and lower limbs 14 and 16, and a strung drawstring 18. The present invention is adapted for use with such a conventional archers bow 10, however, it may be readily adapted for use with other forms of bows by those skilled in the art and all such adaptations are within the scope of the present invention. As is known, when the archer employs the conventional bow, torque is oftentimes transferred from his hand or grip to the riser, causing an errant shot.

[0018] One embodiment of the torque reduction assembly 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. In this embodiment, the torque reduction assembly 20 includes a grip portion 22 attached to the central riser 12 facing the drawstring 18. The grip portion 22 may be similar to many conventional one-piece grips, with certain modifications as illustrated herein. The grip portion 22 includes a hollow central channel 26 between two side plates 28 and 30. The grip portion 22 includes a contoured front surface 32 which allows the archer to comfortably grip the bow. The grip portion 22 may be manufactured from any conventional grip material such as rubber, plastic, wood, polycarbonate, or aluminum. The front surface 32 of the grip portion 22, which faces the strung drawstring 18, may be manufactured or covered in a soft, knurled finish rubber.

[0019] The torque reduction assembly 20 also includes a coupling for mounting the grip portion 22 to the riser 12. The coupling preferably allows rotational movement of the grip portion 22 with respect to the riser 12 along two axis while maintaining alignment between the grip portion 22 and the riser 12 along a third axis. As an example, the coupling may be a universal joint 34 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As is known, a universal joint is a coupling that is comprised of two main bodies that are joined together at two axis, a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. The main bodies can rotatably move along both vertical and horizontal axis in relationship to one another, while maintaining alignment along the third axis. The universal joint 34 is illustrated as an example of a coupling, and may be modified in size, shape, mounting and adjustment methods, and material used to manufacture it without departing from the present invention.

[0020] As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the universal joint 34 includes two U-shaped members 36, 38, and a cubic central body between the two U-shaped members 36, 38. The cubic central body has two vertical pins 42 protruding from a pair of opposing sides and two horizontal pins 44 protruding from a second pair of opposing sides of the cubic central body. The vertical pins 42 extend through one U-shaped member 38 allowing rotation about the vertical axis, i.e., the axis generally in line with riser 12. The horizontal pins 44 extend through the other U-shaped member 36 allowing rotation about the horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical axis and generally parallel to the front surface 32 of the grip portion 22.

[0021] The universal joint 34 is attached to the grip portion 22 by adjusting screws 46 extending through slots on each side of the grip portion 22 as shown in FIG. 2. The adjusting screws 46 extend into recesses in the universal joint 34 to secure the universal joint 34 to the grip portion 22. In this embodiment, the universal joint 34 is spaced between the front surface 32 of the grip portion 22 and the riser 12.

[0022] The universal joint 34 may be attached to the riser 12 in several ways. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the riser 12 may include a hollow, recessed portion 48 facing the drawstring 18 designed to accept a shaft portion 50 of the universal joint 34. The shaft portion 50 may be attached or integral to one of the U-shaped members of the universal joint 34. The recessed portion 48 may be machined into the riser 12 so that the riser completely surrounds the portion of the universal joint 34. The recessed portion 48 may be elongated to allow the placement of the universal joint 34 to be vertically adjusted in recessed portion 48. As necessary, a screw 52, e.g., a threaded Allen head screw, or similar device may be used to secure the universal joint 34 in the recessed portion 48. The screw 52 may reside within a recessed slot in the back side of the riser 12 (i.e., away from the drawstring 18) to that the head of the adjusting screw 52 does not protrude past the outer surface of the riser 12.

[0023] Another embodiment of the torque reduction assembly 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the torque reduction assembly 20 includes a hollow grip portion 22 designed to accept and surround the central riser 12. Thus, the riser 12 extends through the hollow grip portion 22. This allows the torque reduction assembly 20 to be adapted for use with a substantially unmodified riser 12. The grip portion 22 includes a hollow central channel 26 between two side plates 28 and 30. The side plates 28, 30 of the grip portion 22 are sufficiently spaced apart to allow the riser 12 to float in the interior of the grip portion 22. The hollow interior of the grip portion 22 may vary in size and shape depending on the size and shape of the central riser 12 and the coupling. The front surface 32 of the grip portion 22 faces the strung drawstring 18. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shaft portion 50 (or one of the U-shaped members 36) of the universal joint 34 may be attached to the riser 12 using a bracket 56. In one embodiment, bracket 56 may be L-shaped to accommodate various sizes and shapes of risers on exiting bows, without any modifications to the riser itself.

[0024]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the torque reduction assembly 20 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the coupling (e.g., universal joint 34) is placed on the far side of the riser 12, i.e., the side remote from the drawstring 18. Thus the riser 12 is spaced between the front of the grip portion 22 and the universal joint 34. The grip portion 22 includes a hollow central channel 26 between two side plates 28, 30. A back plate 58 is included on the side opposite the front surface 32. Thus, the front surface 32, side plates 28, 30 and back plate 58 form the hollow central channel through which the riser 12 extends. The universal joint 34, specifically one of the U-shaped members 36, is attached to the inside of the back plate 58. The U-shaped member 36 may be attached to the back plate 58 by using a screw 64 passing through an elongated slot 62 in the back plate 58 that allows the universal joint to be vertically adjusted with respect to the grip portion 22. The other U-shaped member 36, or a shaft portion 50 attached or integral to the universal joint 34 is attached to the riser via a back block 60. The back block 60 may include an elongated slot allowing the universal joint 34 to be vertically adjusted with respect to the back block 60 using a screw extending through the slot and into a recess in the shaft portion 50 or the U-shaped member 38. The riser 12 may be directly affixed to the back block 60.

[0025] The torque reduction assembly of the present invention may be adapted as an after-market product for existing bows or it may be incorporated into the design of new bows. The use of a coupling between the grip portion and the riser substantially reduces unwanted torque from transferring from the archer's hand to the riser, thus allowing the archer to maintain precise rotary control of the bow. This permits the bow to have a precise pressure point that will be identical shot after shot. With respect to the above description, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the pre sent invention.

[0026] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain presently preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. 

We claim:
 1. A torque reduction assembly for use with an archery bow having a central riser, the assembly comprising a grip having a front surface adapted to be in contact with an archer's hand and a coupling for mounting the grip to the riser that allows a predetermined amount of rotational movement of the grip with respect to the riser along two axis while maintaining alignment between the grip and the riser along a third axis.
 2. The torque reduction assembly of claim 1 wherein the two axis comprise a vertical axis generally extending along the length of the riser and a horizontal axis generally extending perpendicular to the riser and parallel to the front surface of the grip.
 3. The torque reduction assembly of claim 1 wherein the coupling comprises a universal joint.
 4. The torque reduction assembly of claim 1 wherein the coupling is spaced between the front surface of the grip and the riser.
 5. The torque reduction assembly of claim 4 wherein the riser has a recessed portion facing the front surface of the grip that receives and retains a shaft portion of coupling.
 6. The torque reduction assembly of claim 5 wherein the recessed portion is elongated to allow the coupling to be vertically adjusted with respect to the riser.
 7. The torque reduction assembly of claim 4 further comprising a bracket attached to the shaft portion for mounting the coupling to the riser.
 8. The torque reduction assembly of claim 7 wherein the bracket may be adjustably attached to the shaft portion to allow the coupling to be vertically adjusted with respect to the riser.
 9. The torque reduction assembly of claim 1 wherein the riser is spaced between the coupling and the front surface of the sip.
 10. The torque reduction assembly of claim 1 wherein the grip may be adjustably mounted to the riser.
 11. A torque reduction assembly for use with an archery bow having a central riser, the assembly comprising a grip having a front surface adapted to be in contact with an archer's hand and a coupling spaced between the front surface of the grip and the riser for mounting the grip to the riser that allows a predetermined amount of rotational movement of the grip with respect to the riser along both a vertical axis generally extending along the length of the riser and a horizontal axis generally extending perpendicular to the riser and parallel to the front surface of the grip, while maintaining alignment between the grip and the riser along a third axis.
 12. The torque reduction assembly of claim 11 wherein the riser has a recessed portion facing the front surface of the grip that receives and retains a shaft portion of coupling.
 13. The torque reduction assembly of claim 11 wherein the recessed portion is elongated to allow the coupling to be vertically adjusted with respect to the riser.
 14. A torque reduction assembly for use with an archery bow having a central riser, the assembly comprising a grip having a front surface adapted to be in contact with an archer's hand and a coupling for mounting the grip to the riser that allows a predetermined amount of rotational movement of the grip with respect to the riser along both a vertical axis generally extending along the length of the riser and a horizontal axis generally extending perpendicular to the riser and parallel to the front surface of the grip, while maintaining alignment between the grip and the riser along a third axis, wherein the riser is spaced between the coupling and the front surface of the grip. 